Second Order Virial Coefficient and the Relationships Between Quantum and Classical Statistics and Scattering

摘要

We clarify some aspects of the relationship between quantum statistical mechanics and scattering theory, which show up in their simplest form in the behaviour of the second-order virial coefficient b/sub 2/. For this purpose we derive a new representation for b/sub 2/. The relationship with classical statistical mechanics is also illuminated by a recently obtained formula for the difference between the classical and quantum second order virial coefficients which allows the determination of the leading quantum correction to b/sub 2/. The several approaches represent alternative ways of implementing the cancellation of divergences in b/sub 2/. (Atomindex citation 19:029370)